Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria):
Purple loosestrife is considered a wetland invasive species. The first documented case of purple loosestrife in this country was by the naturalist John Burroughs. He found it on a farm on Slide Mountain in the Catskills in the 1860’s. It became a common wetland plant along the Wallkill River and gradually spread to several wetland areas along the New York Thruway where it remained in check until the 1990’s. It has now spread up and down the east coast and into the mid-West.
Several beetle species have been found to feed on the stems and leaves as larva. It is hoped that they will put an end to the rampant spread of this plant. Although the flowers are a good source of nectar for bees, the plant also crowds out the naturally occurring plant life like cattails. This imbalance creates disruption in the food web and niches of the wetland habitat.
Herbs – Purple loosestrife